More than 2000 Pounds of Rattlesnake Caught in Waurika

More than 2000 Pounds of Rattlesnake Caught in Waurika

Rattlesnakes aren't uncommon in Texoma, and while most people shy away from them, dozens of people are actively seeking them out in Waurika this weekend for the 51st annual Fangtastic Rattlesnake Hunt.

They slither, they slide, and they can cause people to scurry. Some people...but not these people. James White, a rattlesnake hunter, says, "I put a snake right up close to my face. My nose was touching when his head was out. I did a stand out when i held him up in the air." Greg Henderson, a rattlesnake hunter, says, "It's a sport. It's different. It's dangerous. That's what attracts us to it." "I've always liked rattlesnakes. Ever since I was a kid," White says. And what do those folks do once those snakes are secure and skinned? They toss them in a fryer, of course! Samantha Solis, who attended the festival, says, "Oh my gosh I just tried rattlesnake for the first time, and you know, it wasn't so bad. It's a little tough, kind of a mix between fish and chicken. But hey, I ate it! I'd recommend it to anybody else." The hunt originally started as a way to get the rattlesnake population under control, but over the more than half a century it's been around, it's evolved into so much more. Mike Keesling, who's with the Waurika VFD, says, "We do this every year. Fantastic people come out here." It's now a benefit for the Waurika Volunteer Fire Department. All the proceeds go to the VFD, helping them with their needs. "We do it for our bunker gear and fire equipment. Fire trucks, stuff like that. We get a lot of people out here," Keesling says. The hunt raises between $30- and $40-thousand for the department each year. The final day of this year's hunt is tomorrow in downtown Waurika. And if you decide to go, here's something you can look forward to: the longest snake auction.